johnson



(No Model.)

r 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. A. JOHNSON.

THREE WAY SWITGH.

Patented July 1, 1890.

FlG l FF 1 u I HIIEI (No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. A. JOHNSON. THREE WAY SWITCH.

'No. 431,520. Patented July 1,1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. V

I JOHN A. JOHNSON, OF TREMPEALEAU, \VISOONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES S. PIERSON, OF SAME PLACE.

TH REE- WAY SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,520, dated m 1, 1890.

Application filed October 25, 1889. Serial No. 328,127. (No model.) I

State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Three-WVay Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification. My invention relates to an improvement in three-way triple or double throw split switches, heretofore so-called split switches, some of which have-one pair of points a distance of several feet back of the others, which is actually simply two single-throw switches, with the points of the one laid at the heel of the other, and requires two single-throw stands to operate the switches, or else some expensive and complicated device which connects the two singleethrow switches with interlocking bars. This class of switches requires a number of additional switches, ties, and plates as their moving rail is located in different planes, and each pair of points re quire their own sliding surface.

Another class of three-way switches requires in order to lay them into a track to drill, cut, and otherwise prepare the continuous or fixed rail, such as cutting off the base on inside of fixed rail flush with the ball thereof so as to allow the points to come up snugly to the rail, and also drilling holes in the rib of fixed rail to allow tie-bars to pass through from the outside and connect with points next to the fixed rail, which is objectionable, as the fixed rail in all cases is continuous and will creep one way or the other, while the points are almost always stationary, as they determine it from the frogs, and if they should creep, they would be just as apt to creep in opposite directions to fixed rail. Then the holes in the fixed rail would not be in the right position for the tie-bars. Consequently the tie-bars would be bound tight in the hole; also, where the fixed rail is cut to suit the point the fixed rail would be out of position, and the point would either be bound or else ride the base of fixed rail, unless the base of the fixed rail should be out off several inches, which would not be practicable, as the base of the rail is necessary to get its support from the spikes, and the holes for tiebars in the fixed rail cannot be very long, as they would weaken the rail; and even if the holes could be several inches long there is no limit to the distance the track will creep.

Another class of three-way switches which it is claimed to operate-switch with a single stand or a stand with but one lever-has a coil-spring on which the switch has to depend entirely for one position independent of the standthat is, the stand has no functions to the switch only in two positions, and the coil-spring does it all in the third position, which is generally for the middle track, as the middle track is almost always used as the main track, over which trains move with much greater speed than on either of the turn-outs, and it is necessary that the switch should be held firm in position by the stand.

A coil-springis very apt to break, especially in the northern climate, and is also apt to be clogged up by a bolt, a stone,a nut, ice, sleet,

or other hard substances of suitable size, that may dropbetween the coils and prevent its action. There are also single-lever stands for operating double-throw split switches which have two cranks on the shaft and are attached to the switch with two connecting-bars. This may seem all right; but it will be seen that the one pair of points is governed by the movement of the others-that is, the switch is not governed by the stand as one switch, but as two switches combined and connected to one stand, each switch by its own separate connection-bars Some switches have all the points level with the main or fixed rails. In this case the car-wheel-runs fiat onthe fixed rail and the points where the latter is narrow enough to allow the tire to extend over them. Then in case of a double-flange wheel, which is often the case, the fixed rail and the next point will be slivered and flattened down by the outside flange. In some cases the outside points, or the points next to the fixed rail, extend farther back than the inside point, so 5 that the wheel will approach and enter upon first the one point and then the other. vIn this case the inside point cannot be protected by the kink in the fixed rail and the outside point cannot be kinked. Consequently the point of the inside split rail has no protection and the flange of the wheel will strike it with full force, and it cannot last long, always being the outside rail of the curve and in about the place where an engine or car gets its first tension to curve when approaching the switch. Slide-plates are generally too narrow, so that in a short time they will work down into the tie under the rails, with the ends curved upward. 'They then become too low and lose their support to the point-rail; also, the spikes have to be driven close together in the same section of the grain of tie, causing it to split, and after the spikes are pulled. and plugged once or twice the tie is made useless.

The object of my invention is to provide a three-Way automatic and safety split switch of such construction that the distance from point of curve to point of crotch-frog will be the same in both turn-outs or in all three tracks, as may be the case; also, that any common three-way-switch stand may be used, (a chance to use up old material,) although it requires my improved automatic double and single throw stand (described and claimed in an application of even date herewith) to make the switch completely automatic; also of such construction that it can be laid in any posi: tion and part of a track without cutting, drilling, or otherwise destroying the main-track rails and without the use of any other prepared or fitted rails and angle-irons outside of the four points, plates, and bars, and with all four points the usual length of fifteen feet.

My invention consists of a three-way split ing each pair of points together, having ex-.

tended fixed ends acting as slide-plates, which saves the drilling and riveting fast to points, as part of the extended ends pass under fixed rail to prevent points from jumping up. These bars are located on top of ties one-quarter inch from the surface to prevent friction, which I claim is a benefit in several ways. First, if an engine or car should get off the track the bars will not break, as is the case when between the ties; second, bars cannot become clogged with ice and sleet, as the ac tion of the car going over the switch will shake it loose.

My invention further consists of slide-plates being the full width of tie, or eight inches, giving the rails bearing-surface equal to the width of ties, and having the middle third or the two outside thirds of the width of plate lower than the rest, in which an extra small plate or the extended ends of rods which act as bearings for inside points can slide; also, the plates beingwide, the spikes can be driven far apart in different sections of the grain of ties. Asquare piece in the middle of the plate is cut or punched on three sides, and then bent upward and formed in shape for a brace-block to support the fixed rail from lateral movement, which saves the material for other bracing, as well as rivets and drilling of holes to attach to plates; also, every spike driven in the plates inside and outside of rails has a tendency to hold the switch to gage as the plates pass under fixed and both point rails; also, by the peculiar construction of the bars and plates the points are elevated one above the other, and both above the fixed rail, preventing the brooming and flattening down outside points of fixed rail by doublefianged wheels.

My invention further consists of the construction attached near the points of outside split rails. 'at an angle of about forty-five degrees, so that the two links form a like angle, although any I other angle may suit, are jointed where they meet, and a slotted or .double bar, with one I end pivoted to the top of head-block, passes through the joint, so that the pins that connect the links pass through the slot in the slotted bar; then a guard or bracket that can be of different shapes, and attached to either head block or a tie farther back or other different ways, when the slotted bar is parallel with the track, forces the point forward, to spread the angle of the two rods. Consequently the outside points are forced tight to the continuous or fixed rail, and as each outside point is connected with inside point on opposite sides by means of the tie-rods the inside points are thrown toward the center of the track, and the switch is set for the middle track (not main track-either of the three may be main track.)

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure I is a plan view of my three-way switch with its working parts in position for main track. Fig. II isa plan View of the switch and working parts in position for left turn-out. Fig. III is a sectional-view showing the elevation of points. Fig. IV is a detail view showing the connection of the rods that come together at an angle. Fig. V is a View showing a tie-rod part broken away. Fig. VI is a perspective View of the guard. Figs. VII, VIII, and IX are perspective views of the three forms of slide-plates. Fig. X is a side view of the tie-rod near the extremities of the points.

' I11 the drawings, A A represent the fixed rails, 13 B the outside points, and O O the inside points. The points are usually fifteen feet long, and the inside points are in advance of the outside points.

In Fig. III is shown the elevation of the outside points above the fixed rails and of the inside points above the outside points. Each of the fixed rails are kinked, as usual,

vided with pivoted arms or lugs d d and e 6,

respectively. The arms cl and e are longer than the arms cl and e, and they pass through the turn-out points 0 and C, and are secured to the middle-track points B and B, respectively. The short arms or lugs d and e are secured to the turn-out points 0 and C, re-' spectively. Thus it will be seen that when the point C is moved for right-hand turn-out the point Bwill also be moved, and when the point C is moved for left-hand turn-out the point B will be moved with it.

E and G are plates nearly the width of the ties II and secured thereto by spikes. The plat-es are made with lips or flanges f and g, respectively, made by cutting out on three sides and then striking up. These lips engage over the base-flanges of the fixed rails A A, so that it is not necessary to drive the spikes through the latter.

A plate F is shown in detail in Fig. VIII. In each the middle third thereof has a raised portion or support f, over and upon which the outside points B B move, and are supported higher than the fixed rails. At each side of the raised portion the extended ends D D and E E of the rods D and E, respectively, slide. These ends D and E are thicker than the raised portions f of the plates F, so as to elevate the inner points C and 0' above the outer points B and B. Alternate ties are provided with these plates F.

A plate G, that is placed between the adjacent plates F F, is shown in Fig. VII. In each of these plates G the two outer thirds have raised portions g, between which is the groove or slideway g. Fixed to the under side of the outside points B B (the said points being supported over and moving upon the raised portions 9) are small blocks I, that slide in the grooves or ways g and support the inside points 0 and C, they being higher than the raised portions g g, so as to support the points last mentioned at their proper height.

The plates F are similar to those F, excepting that the slideway f extends the whole length thereof. These plates are fixed to the tie nearest the head-block J over which latter the ends of the points move. In these slideways f the greatly-extended ends of the tiebar K slide underneath the fixed rails A A.

Extending out from the head-block J, midway of the rails A A, is a bracket K, having curved guides 70, the meeting points of which have a notch k. Projecting through openings in the inner points 0 O are arms L L, that are fixed to the outer points B B, and to these are pivoted the links M M, that come together at an angle at their inner ends, said angle being about forty-five degrees; but this is not essential. Through them at their meet ing ends passes apin or bolt N, that also passes through a longitudinal slot 0 in the lever O, that is pivoted at j to the headblock 'J.

As the lever of the switch-stand is operated one way or the other, the points will be moved through the medium of the devices just described, and a connecting-bar P, pivoted to the outer end of lever O, the meeting ends of the links M M being guided back into the notch k by the curved guides of the bracket K.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a three-way switch, tie-bars connect ing each pair of points together, said bars having extended ends, and bearings under the points, and fixed rails in which said ends I pairs, plates G, having central slideways with raised portions on each side thereof, on which latter the outer points are supported at an I elevation above the fixed rails, and blocks fixed to said outer points and sliding in said slideways, said blocks being higher than said raised portions and supporting the inner points at an elevation above the outer points, substantially as set forth.

4; In a three=way switch, the combination of the points, the arms secured to the outer points, links pivoted thereto at their outer ends and meeting in a point at theirinner ends, a bracket or guard having a notch in which the meeting points engage, and an operatinglever having a slot through which the pin connecting said link passes, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with a three way switch, of a fixed pin, a support therefor, a lever pivoted on the pin, suitable mechanism connecting the same between the track-rails with the switch-points, and a rod extending from the switch-stand and pivoted to said lever, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JOHN A. JOHNSON.

IVitnesses:

J. E. MoCoNNELL, H. L. HIGBEE. 

